Seven Must-Have Tools For Your Drywall Project

Seven Must-have Tools for Your Drywall Project. I’ve worked in the trades for over thirty years, and I know that drywall tools really help in getting a drywall project done quickly and easily. In addition to technique, of course, because let’s face it, technique is really important in the overall appearance of the finished wall. However, don’t underestimate how much having the proper tools and good tools will help you when you are hanging and taping drywall. It matters more than you would think. For example, there’s a saying that you can recognize a professional in their craft by the way they handle their tools, but beyond that, I would also venture to say that you can recognize a professional by the tools that they use. Now, why is that? It’s like I said, tool selection and the quality of your tools play more of a role than one might think in the overall quality of the finished product. And professionals know this. That is why no one who hangs and tapes drywall for a living would be without the tools listed below, and of a brand associated with quality. Hand tools matter more than power tools when it comes to finishes. That is why painters don’t purchase cheap brushes, and why your first consideration when buying drywall tools should be to get the best tools you can afford.

Here are the 7 tools that will enable you to breeze through any dry-walling job just like a pro:

Sanding Pole Using a sanding pole is a great time saver. It produces an even and consistent sanded finish. Because the sanding pad extends and rotates on a pole, sanding ceilings, high areas and even corners and angles can be quick and easy. In fact, this tool is so efficient at cutting through cured joint compound, there can be a tendency to over-sand if you are not careful. Other sanding methods, such as hand sanding, can’t measure up to the results you’ll get with a pole sander. An electric sander may produce a similar smooth finish surface, but it can’t match a sanding pole’s reach and flexibility. And it’s for this reason that having a pole sander is invaluable.

Drywall Saw A drywall saw may be short and stout in appearance, but it comes up anywhere but short in its ability to cut drywall. This type of handsaw is designed with aggressive teeth, and can cut through a sheet of drywall like butter. It’s a little bit of a specialty tool because it’s not required often, however, when you need a drywall saw, no other handsaw matches its speed for cutting. And if you’re thinking a key hole saw can do the same job, well, it can’t. Keyhole saws are nice for small, tight cuts, but when making larger cuts a keyhole saw will struggle to maintain a straight line and a straight cut. A drywall saw, on the other hand, eats drywall and stays on track with little to no effort.

Stainless Steel Taping Knives and/ or Finish Trowels These are the “Cadillacs” of drywall tools. It’s nearly impossible to get anything but a professional looking finish when mudding with these tools. A cheaply made knife or trowel cannot lay down joint compound in the same way a quality tool does. My finish trowels are always stainless steel and are always Marshalltown brand. I believe they are the best-crafted finish trowels bar none. Plus, they’re durable and can last for years, so you can expect to have yours in your satchel for decades.

Screw Gun This is a great tool to have for its sheer speed. It counter-sinks the drywall screw perfectly and effortlessly every time. Hanging drywall can take minutes instead of being a long drawn-out process. And if hanging a drywall ceiling is part of your drywall project, you’ll be glad you invested in a screw gun. However, there is a downside and that is, it’s really a one-trick pony. It’s great for drywall, however, there’s little else you can use it for, and it can be costly in comparison to a hand tool. So, for that reason, renting a screw gun may be a more economical road to travel.

Drywall T-Square can substitute in a pinch for a tape measure, though you should really have both. But if I had to choose between the two tools, it would be a drywall square hands down. Here why: you just can’t get a bad cut with this tool. It helps your utility knife deliver a nice even, crisp, accurate cut. Heck, that’s half the battle. There’s nothing like trying to lay mud (joint compound) over a jagged, uneven seam, especially if it’s a butt joint. Having a drywall T not only provides a straight edge for guiding your utility knife, but it accurately measures as well, and some drywall T’s are notched to use in combination with a utility knife and/or a pencil for easy marking and cutting. I’d be hard pressed to do a drywall job without this very valuable tool.

Corner Trowel I mention this separately from the other trowels and knives because it is absolutely essential when it comes to creating clean, crisp inside corners. A corner trowel speeds up the mudding process for corners and ceiling to wall angles. It’s not only fast, but it takes less skill to use than a joint knife or a finish trowel. I simply would never be without one, and you shouldn’t either.

Utility knife with retractable blade There is no getting around having a utility knife. You can in some instances make do without a keyhole saw, but not without a utility knife. And the reason a retractable-blade utility knife is preferable is because it’s simply safer than a fixed blade knife. I know the fixed blade knives are easy to load and unload with new blades, and the retractable utility knives can be a hassle to change out the the blades. But they are tons safer than fixed-blade knives. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone slice their leg open retrieving a fixed blade utility knife from their side pants leg pocket on their work overalls, not to mention accidently cutting their pants as well. It’s for this reason, a retractable utility knife is a must have and is what I recommend for every do-it-yourselfer.

So, there you have it. These are the seven must-have drywalling tools that every diy-er who is planning a large drywall project or renovation should own. Use these seven tools and you’ll be amazed at how good a good tool can make you and your drywall project look.